Theatrical



(No Model.)

J. HERRERA Y GUTIERREZ.

'THE'ATRIOAL APPLIANCE.

No. 479,001. Patent-ed Ju1y19, 1892.

WiZjWte a 5 $72 223? NITED- STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JESUS HERRERA Y. GUTIERREZ, OF MEXICO, MEXICO.

TH EATRICAL APPLIANCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 479,001, dated July 19,1892.

Application filed April 28, 1892- $eria1 No. 431,199. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J ESUS HERRERA Y G TIERREZ, a citizen of Mexico,residing at the city of Mexico, Mexico, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Theatrical Appliances and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

My invention relates to theatrical appliances; and it consists of aseries of revolving saloons or audience-chambers, in combination withstationary spectacular rooms or spaces in which scenery, tableaux, ortheatrical exhibitions are displayed successively to audiences in eachof the said revolving chambers, as hereinafter more particularlydescribed and claimed.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which is a planView of the structure.

Referring to the drawing, A represents a circular outside wall orbuilding of the theater,

or the outside inclosure may, if desired, be of another form, so long asthe same accommodates the internal circular arrangements hereinafterdescribed. The general arrangement inside of this inclosure consists ofan outside stationary circular stage 0, divided into separate scene andexhibiting compartments H, and a central revolving platform divided intoseparate compartments 0 D, adapted to face the exhibiting and othercompartments of the surrounding stage.

The audience-compartments C are provided with seats 0. Adjoining thecompartments 0 are angular smaller entrance-chambers D communicatingwith the compartments 0 by doorways or passages N, and which alsocommunicate with the vestibule A by doorways B.

I represents the green rooms or spaces at the rear end and sides of thescene-rooms H to afford space for actors, workmen, scenery, 850. Theyalso communicate with the vestibule and each other by passage-ways N.

At the front of each scenic chamber H is provided a partition or'raisedportion G to separate the chamber from the audiencechamber 0. At thispointa curtain and foot lights may be provided. If desired, the floorsof the scenic chambers may be on a level with the audience-chambers orelevated above the same, as taste may require. Any arrangement ofscenery or any matter to be displayed can be varied as to character,position, height, and location, as may be preferred. Each scene maydiffer from another, and the themes illustrated orenactedmaybe of anycharacterhistorical, patriotic, allegorical, artistic, &c. and may alsoconsist of tableaux, pantomimes, or panoramas or dramaticrepresentations.

L represents an apartment in which machinery of any appropriatecharacter is located with which to operate the moving audiencechamber.

S is a large saloon or exit-chamber at which the revolvingaudience-chambers stop at the end of the exhibition.

J J are doorways leading from the chambers 0 into said saloon, and K Kare exit-doors leading therefrom to and out of the building.

The dotted lines indicate the divisional lines between the scenicchambers, being a continuation of the lines of the side walls of theaudience-chambers, the timing of the movement of the audience-chambersbeing such as to cause their sides to register with sides of therespective scenic chambers, and to thus give the spectators the propervisual range.

In order to clearly describe and understand the operation of theinvention, the stationary compartments are marked from 1 to 10 and fromright to left, beginning with entrance lobby A, continuing to the leftwith the separate scenic compartments or stages marked 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,and 8, the exit-saloon 9, and the machinery or motor room 10. Theaudienceohambers O and theiradjoining passage-oham bers D are alsonumbered from 1 to 10 but from left to right. The portion of thestruct-, ure which revolves may be placed on Wheels and connectedwith-belting or chains with any desired form of motor. Let now theaudience-chamber marked 1 coincide in position with the vestibule A withan audience in 1 and the performance ready to begin. Theaudience-chamber 1 coincides with a scenic chamber marked 2. Themovement is then stopped for a certain timesay five minutes to allow thepeople in audience-chamber l to behold the scene on stage 2. At thefirst movement the angular ante-chamber D has been brought on a linewith the entrance-lobby A.

A new audience enters this chamber and passes through the passage-wayNat the right into the audiencechamber C. The five minutes havingexpired audience-chamber 1 is passed to the front of scenic chamber 2,and audience-chamber 3 is stopped at lobby A, and continues to receiveadditional spectators. At the expiration of the next intervalaudience-chamber 3 is passed to scenic chamber 2 and entrance-chamber 4comes to the lobby. Thus while the spectators in each of the chambersare engaged during the fixed time in viewing a scene, a new set ofspectators is being constantly received without interruption through thesucceeding ante-chamberD and audience-chambers C. When andience-chamber1 has passed around the entire number of scenic chambers, it finallycomes to the saloon or exit-chamber S, wherein the spectators in thatand in each succeeding audience-chamber pass, and from which they passout of the building. Seven scenic chambers are here represented, andconsequently the performance will last thirty-five minutes; but thenumber of the respective compartments, the size of the building, thecharacter of the matter displayed, the length of time of theperformance, furniture, and embellishments of the stages and rooms mayall be varied to suit the taste of proprietors without changing thenature of my invention.

What I claim is- 1. In a building for theatrical, scenic, and otherdisplays, a series of stationary, separate,

and independent scenic compartments, incombination with a revolvingplatform having seperate audience-chambers to coincide with said sceniccompartments, substantially as described.

2. The combination within a suitable buildin g of a stage divided intoseparateindependent stages or scenic compartments, spaces forgreen-rooms and communicating passages with a revolving platform havingaudiencechambers arranged to coincide with the said scenic compartments,a lobby or vestibule having passages leading to said scenic compartmentsand also to said audience-chambers, substantially as described.

3. The revolving platform having the central space for music-stand,separate audiencechambers extending from said space, angularante-chambers between the audience-chambers, a lobby communicating withsaid structure, and communicating passages between said chambers,substantially as described.

4:. The combination, with a circular stationary stage provided withentrance-vestibule, independent scenic compartments, and exit-saloon, ofa central-revolving audience platform or chamber and communicatingpassages, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JESUS HERRERA Y GrU'lIERItEZ.

\Vitnesses:

F. E. TRAINER, JUAN ALOALDE.

